Now what?
Now that the dust has settled on the latest candidate for Game of the Century, where do the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts go from here?
The Patriots have a bye week, giving them a chance to catch their breath after the fourth-quarter rally that kept alive their perfect season. The Colts? They have to head for San Diego, where the Chargers are looking for answers after giving up an NFL-record 296 rushing yards to Vikings rookie Adrian Peterson.
There will be no 14-2 season in San Diego. There will be no 10-game winning streak. Question is, can the Chargers make the playoffs? A loss to the Colts on Sunday would drop them to 4-5.
The Indy-San Diego matchup is one of a handful of Couch Potato Heaven specials on the NFL dance card. Elsewhere, the Dallas Cowboys will take their 7-1 record to the Meadowlands for a date with the New York Giants. And the Cleveland Browns – excuse us, the high-flying Cleveland Browns – will play at Pittsburgh, where the Steelers will be coming off a short week after Monday night’s easy “W” over Baltimore.
Couch Potato Heaven
Cleveland at Pittsburgh
11 a.m., Steelers by 9 1/2
Last Meeting: Steelers won 34-7 at Cleveland on Sept. 9.
Brownies aren’t same club that got walloped by Stillers at Mistake by the Lake. … In their five wins, Browns have averaged 35.8 ppg. … Steelers 4-0 at home and Big Ben has only one INT in the four games. … Santonio Holmes emerging into big-play guy for Stillers – 17.9 ypc, 6 TD grabs. … Pitt LB James Harrison vs. Ravens on MNF: 3.5 sacks, 2 FF & 1 INT. Not only that, he’s a righteous dude.
Prediction: Steelers 31, Browns 23
Dallas at N.Y. Giants
2:15 p.m., Cowboys by 1 1/2
Last Meeting: Cowboys won 45-35 at Dallas on Sept. 9.
G-Men D decided to show up this season after season-opening debacle at Dallas. Their 296 ypg allowed is second-best in the NFC. … Tony in 18 career starts: 13-5, 35 TD passes. … Giants are fifth team in NFL annals to win six straight after opening 0-2. … Dallas TE Jason Witten, one of league’s most underrated players, three away from 300 career catches.
Prediction: Giants 24, Cowboys 23
Indianapolis at San Diego
6:15 p.m., Colts by 3 1/2
Last Meeting: Chargers won 26-17 at Indianapolis on Dec. 18, 2005.
Bolts’ W at Indy ruined Colts’ quest for perfect 2005 season. … Question du jour: Can either of these teams get off the mat after crushing losses last week? Colts lost to Pats in Good-vs.-Evil Bowl, Chargers allowed two country miles to Adrian Peterson in loss at Minnie. … Peyton Manning on pace for 28 TD passes, 8 INTs. OK, so it isn’t Tom Brady territory, but it’s pretty good.
Prediction: Colts 34, Chargers 30
Worth the Electricity
Jacksonville at Tennessee
11 a.m., Tennessee by 4
Last Meeting: Titans won 13-10 at Jacksonville on Sept. 9.
OK, so neither team is pretty. Seems all they do is win. … Those rumors that he’ll never throw another TD pass? Vince Young, proud owner of three TD tosses and eight INTs, says they’re not true. … Jags trying to get by with Brady Quinn till David Garrard returns. OK, so his name is Quinn Gray. You get the point. There’s a reason you had never heard of the guy. … Titans have won 12 of past 15 and five of past six vs. AFC South.
Prediction: Titans 24, Jaguars 9
Minnesota at Green Bay
11 a.m., Packers by 6
Last Meeting: Packers won 23-16 at Minnesota on Sept. 30.
From the age-is-only-a-number dept.: Brett Favre on pace for a career-high 4,812 slingin’ yards. … This just in. Vikings rookie TB Adrian Peterson has potential. Good thing they have end zones in the Metrodome or the Chargers still would be chasing him. … How unbalanced is GB attack? Favre on pace for 616 passes. Current starting TB Ryan Grant on pace for 372 rush yards. … Pack has won 11 of past 12.
Prediction: Vikings 20, Packers 19
Philadelphia at Washington
11 a.m., Redskins by 3
Last Meeting: Redskins won 20-12 at Philadelphia on Sept. 17.
Don’t ask how, but Donovan McNabb is on pace for first 4,000-yard passing season. … Eagles may be the most inconsistent team in the bid’ness. They lose at home to Bears, beat Vikings on road, then get waxed in Philly by Cowboys. So what will they do in this one? Even the Great ‘n’ Powerful Oz must be wondering. … Clinton Portis coming off career day – 196 yards – vs. Jets. But then, they’re the Jets. Who doesn’t have a career day vs. them?
Prediction: Eagles 17, Redskins 16
Beats Cleaning The Garage
Atlanta at Carolina
11 a.m., Panthers by 4
Last Meeting: Panthers won 27-20 at Atlanta on Sept. 23.
Dirty Birds TB Warrick Dunn needs 147 yards to reach 10,000 mark. What’s that? Yeah, you’re right. Like he’s going to get it in this one. … Panthers O line a mess, allowing seven sacks in last week’s loss at Tennessee. … Memo to Joey Harrington: Throw a TD pass already, will ya? Dude has 238 attempts, only four that ended in a dance. … Who knew? Falcons, one of the sorriest outfits in the biz, are plus-8 in turnovers.
Prediction:Panthers 27, Falcons 16
Cincinnati at Baltimore
2:05 p.m., Ravens by 4
Last Meeting: Bengals won 27-20 at Cincinnati on Sept. 10.
Cincy coach Marvin Lewis says club still can make playoffs. Right. And Elvis is going to sing the national anthem before the playoff opener. … Say, didn’t you used to be Steve McNair? He has two TD passes in 150 attempts. … Ravens’ D banged up. Both starting CBs missed MNF blowout at Pitt. … Cincy WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh on course for 124 catches. Well, of course. Bengals’ running game left town six weeks ago.
Prediction: Bengals 23, Ravens 18
Detroit at Arizona
2:15 p.m., Cardinals by 1
Last Meeting: Cardinals won 17-10 at Arizona on Nov. 19, 2006.
Lions are 6-2, Cards 3-5. So why is ‘Zona favored? Because Lions’ two losses have come by combined 90-24 on the road. … Motown has beaten one club with winning record – Bucs. … Performer Formerly Known as Kurt Warner coming off 10-for-30 nightmare vs. Bucs. Ten-for-30? Hey, if it was baseball, dude would be a Hall of Famer. … Lions plus-8 in turnovers, Cardinals minus-9.
Prediction: Cardinals 31, Lions 30
Get A Life, Bubba
Buffalo at Miami
11 a.m., Bills by 3
Last Meeting: Bills won 21-0 at Buffalo on Dec. 17, 2006.
Talk about your turnarounds. Dolphins of ’72 were 14-0. Dolphins of ’07 on pace for 0-16. … Bills plus-7 in turnovers, Dawfins minus-8. … Let’s go in search of fourth consecutive win, a feat Bills haven’t pulled off since December ’04. … Miami DE Jason Taylor loves to play Bills. He has 16 sacks vs. ’em, most of any opponent. … Buffalo special teams stout, as always. PR Roscoe Parrish averaging 19.2 per punt return, more than any other Roscoe in the league. Or anyone else, for that matter.
Prediction: Bills 20, Dolphins 17
St. Louis at New Orleans
11 a.m., Saints by 11 1/2
Last Meeting: Rams won 28-17 at St. Louis on Oct. 23, 2005.
Rams may get star TB Steven Jackson back for this one. At least he was a star before injuries decimated Rams’ O-line. … Rams minus-13 in turnovers, Saints minus-7. … Tale of two teams: N’Awlins 0-4 in first four, 4-0 and averaging 30.5 ppg since. They can become first Not For Long club ever to lose first four, win next five. … Let’s see, what else should we tell you about this game? What’s that? Yeah, you’re right. We’ve already said too much.
Prediction: Saints 34, Rams 20
Chicago at Oakland
2:15 p.m., Bears by 3 1/2
Last Meeting: Bears won 24-21 at Chicago on Oct. 5, 2003.
Raiders expected to return to Josh McCown as starting QB, but he’s keeping position warm for top draft pick JaMarcus Russell. … Raiders finally found a team with more butterfingers than them. Bears minus-10 in turnovers, No There There minus-8. … Bears 9-3 when TB Cedric Benson runs for 50-plus yards. Trouble is, he never does it. He’s averaging a crisp 3.1 yards per.
Prediction: Raiders 13, Bears 10
San Francisco at Seattle
6:30 p.m. Monday, Seahawks by 10
Last Meeting: Seahawks won 23-3 at San Francisco on Oct. 7.
Memo to SF TB Frank Gore: Your fantasy-league owners asked me to thank you for showing up this season. … In Gore’s defense, he’s been battling nagging injuries. But 435 yards in a half-season? Adrian Peterson had that many last Sunday vs. Bolts. Or so it seemed. … Niners have averaged 10.2 ppg in past five. … Seahawks 4-4 and thankful to be in league’s worst division, with apologies to AFC West. … What, you think Gore is struggling? He’s a 4 yards per compared to 3.3 for ex-MVP Shaun Alexander.
Prediction: Seahawks 27, 49ers 13
